Lagash-Umma war

The Lagash-Umma war was one of the first wars in recorded history, fought between the Sumerian city-states of Lagash and Umma in 2450 BC. Eannatum, ruler of the wealthy city-state of Lagash, led his forces against the neighboring city of Umma to resolve a continuous border dispute with their western neighbor. Chariots were used as transport but the battle was fought on foot by dense masses of spearmen. Eannatum advanced at the head of his troops, who adopted a tight-packed infantry formation. Eannatum was wounded by an arrow in the ﬁghting, but ultimately triumphed over Umma. It is doubtful that early Sumerian wars took a heavy toll, even on the lives of the defeated. On a later occasion, Umma, again defeated in battle, lost 60 carts and their crews - probably 120 men, given one driver and one warrior per vehicle. These casualties seem to have been regarded as heavy. On the other hand, the deaths of foot soldiers are unrecorded and these may have been far more numerous.